Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Several Ways to Hook Readers

Every writer would love to make a reader not just pick up their book,  but also be intrigued/curious/ and interested  enough to read the first page and after that keep on reading till the last page.

 To do that, we writers have to ensure  that our readers are  entertained by our stories, absorbed by the way the  story unfolds, and transported into the world we have created with our words.

 To hook readers we have to come up with plot ideas that have the following effect on our readers.

Educated. Our stories should educate our readers in some way. After they put our books down, they should be armed with more information and knowledge.

Intrigued. Something about the plot and character  should arouse the reader’s interest. What will happen next should be the thought buzzing in their mind.

Saddened. Stories that  play havoc with our sad emotions, tug at our  emotional heartstrings  are seldom dropped halfway down.

Angered. Stories that raise our shackles, stories that make us  angry enough to join the cause the writer is espousing,  win over stories that are tepid and evoke no reactions from us.

Frightened. Most readers love to be spooked out of their placidity. No wonder thrillers and murder mysteries enjoy a great readership.

Reassured. Happy endings have that effect: of reassuring readers. Stories that reassure us that in the end everything will work out, work the best. They bring a comfort level in our stressed lives. Everyone likes reassurance.

Changed. Stories that change us in some way, work wonders. At some level the journey of reading a book should change us; in some way, maybe we start looking at things differently after reading a book. Maybe our beliefs undergo a shift.Maybe it works on our faith.

Do you feel that stories that evoke all these reactions work better? What is your personal belief where stories and plots are concerned?We would love to know what works for you?. 

20 comments:

  1. It's strange, with a TV show I'm content to be simply entertained but if a book's aim is clearly to do no more than that I'm generally disappointed and I feel like it's an opportunity squandered by the author.

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  2. I agree with the above. You have the ability to just change the channel, because the programme is just available. When it comes to books, because you have taken the time and money to buy the book, you expect a lot more than just simple entertainment.

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  3. Good points all, Rachna. I know I'm pulled into books that draw on my emotions. And I would add humor to that list of emotions. If I start laughing or chuckling as I turn the pages, there's no way I'm going to put that book down. And, yes, intrigue pulls me in, and I love to have learned something when I finish the book. As a writer, though, it's hard to put all of that in. Sigh.

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  4. Great list! I think your first point is really important. Readers want to be educated, even if its something as simple as learning about life in Botswana from Alexander McCall Smith.

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  5. Hi friends....few days back I read three books, while two just pulled me into their stories, kind of sucked me in, the third book left me cold. It had nothing new to offer; the writer just went on and on with nothing unusual to say. The few chapters I read didn't even entertain me, forget about teaching me something new. That's when the idea for this post came about.

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  6. Funny! I love books that tickle my funny bone like the Captain Underpants series. With the world in the shape it's in, I need to laugh as I read. But I also love books that draw me in with an exciting plot and characters that are so real to me, I feel like I know them personally.

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  7. Fabulous post, Rachna - and I love the inspiration for it (the two good books, one 'bad' book). I agree with every one of these points. For me, the best books are the emotional ones - and ones that change my perceptions. I seem to gravitate toward them. Now if you can get ALL of those things wrapped into ONE novel - woo wee! Hold on for the wild ride.

    Thanks for stopping by my post, too. I've only been silent due to too much freelance work!

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  8. I feel cheated when I read a book like that, Rachna. Especially after paying my hard earned money for it.

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  9. Beautifully and perfectly said, Rachna! For me, I hope a book will do all of these things, and when it does, it makes my day for many a day.

    P.S. I've left a response to your comment on Bird's-eye View, http://michellefayard.blogspot.com/2011/08/wonderfully-witty-its-romantic-fantasy.html.

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  10. Great points and ways to hook a reader. The emotional hook is the most important to me. I want to care about the characters and what happens to them!

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  11. I like this! In other words try and illicit an EMOTION from our readers? Yes, I agree. We have to make them feel in order for them to continue reading.

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  12. Wow. After reading the first few replies, I am hesitant. The ONE goal I set in place for my book was to entertain. Sure there are tiny elements of the other items listed in there. It's unavoidable to tell a good story without them.

    But when I outlined and finally wrote it, it was to be something that I would enjoy reading and what I would want to see on TV.

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  13. by evoking our emotions, the books are engaging with us and that's the hook. We get involved. Great post.

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  14. I do enjoy stories that encompass these points, or some combination of them. Good list!

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  15. I love it when books make me feel any and all of these emotions! It stays with me long after I've finished the last page.

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  16. Wonderful post, Rachna! I love Ursula K. LeGuin because she always makes me think and question my world and beliefs, so I guess I love feeling changed. If it's a romance, I want reassurance. Incidentally, an editor once commented to me that if it didn't inspire an emotional response, it wasn't poetry. I took that to heart and would counter that if it doesn't inspire an emotional response, it's not literature.

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  17. Woah! I totally did a similar post which your blog now answers...I guess great minds think alike. I always struggle with "hooks" and your post really helps....thanks:)

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  18. Totally excellent list (uh oh, I sound like a surfer. Will work on that.) ;)

    I think the "changed" one is the hardest and yet the most magical of all of them.

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  19. Great list! I love a mix of some of those... what I like is a fun thrill ride with strong characters, and a unique and thought provoking premise.

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  20. I agree with the reactions listed, except for the happy endings. I don't think that happy endings are always necessary. I prefer realistic ones. (It may be because I love the literary genre).

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